Valve operating mechanism



May 9, 1967 z, LANSKY ET AL 3,318,332

VALVE OPERATING MECHANI SM Original Filed Jan. 20. 1960 INVENTORSATTORNEY United States Patent 3,318,332 VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM ZdenekJ. Lansky, Winnetka, and Kurt W. Leibfritz, l\ T0rrid'ge, 111.,assignors to Parker-Hannifin Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Original application Jan. 20, 1960, Ser. No. 3,580, pow PatentNo. 3,141,115, dated July 14, 1964. Divided and this application Dec.26, 1963, Ser. No. 333,295 4 Claims. (Cl. 137-62564) This inventionrelates generally to valves and is more particularly concerned with asolenoid valve controlled fluid pressure operated piston for moving amain control valve. The device is especially suited for use incontrolling the operation of a fluid power actuated motor. Thisapplication is a division of application Ser. No. 3,580, filed Jan. 20,1960, and now Patent No. 3,141,115.

It is an object of the invention to provide :a valve operating mechanismof the type described which is ex tremely compact in arrangement.

It is another object to provide such a device in which a pair ofsolenoid operated pilot valves are arranged in axial alignment with andon opposite sides of a reciproeating piston which operates a main valveand in which an auxiliary valve action is provided between the pistonand solenoid valve housings to minimize loss of pressure fluid used forreciprocating the piston.

It is another object to provide a novel form of solenoid in which thevalve plunger may be readily removed for servicing.

It is another object to provide a novel form of solenoid valve for usein connection with a valve operating mechanism of the type described inwhich an exhaust passage through the solenoid valve is in axialalignment therewith and includes an axial passage in the solenoid valveplunger.

It is another object to provide a valve operating mechanism of the typedescribed in which a novel means is provided for grounding the solenoidhousings with respect to the main housing for the device.

It is another object to provide a simplified construction for themechanism in which the solenoid terminals are mounted in a plasticmember which serves to insulate the terminal from the main housing andalso serves as a cap for mounting the solenoid to the main housing.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and fromthe drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross section view of the device showing the valveoperating piston at one end of its stroke,

FIGURE 2 is an end view, partly in section, and

FIGURE 3 is a view of the grounding spring.

The device comprises a main housing having a bore 11 therethroughforming a cylinder, the bore 11 constituting the internal wall of thecylinder. Mounted for reciprocation Within the cylinder is a piston 12having hollow end portions 13 and 14 connected by a central solidsection 15.

The housing 11} has an inlet port 16 communicating with an annularpassage 17 which surrounds and intersects the cylinder bore 11 and whichconnects with an enlarged opening 18 which leads to a flat surface 19 onthe housing 10 diametrically opposite the inlet port 16. Clamped againstthe fiat face 19 is a valve block 21 having a pair of exhaust ports 22and 23 therein which are open at one end to the exterior of the valveblock 21 and whose other ends are open to passages 24 and 25respectively. The valve block also has a pair of delivery ports 26 and27 whose lower ends are open to lower face 28 of the valve block andwhose upper ends are connected by passages 29 and 30, respectively, tothe upper face 31 of the block.

The valve block 21 may be attached by means of 3,3 18,332 Patented May9, 1967 "ice threaded studs 32 to a device, such as a reciprocatingpiston type motor, not shown, to be operated by fluid under pressuredelivered thereto by ports 26 and 27 alternately.

Mounted in an annular groove 35 in the central portion of the piston 12is a slide valve 36 having channels 37, 38 in the lower face 39 thereof.A spring 40, assisted by fiuid pressure within the valve chamber 18,maintains the lower face of the slide valve 36 in sealing relation withthe upper face 31 of the valve block.

A pair of restricted orifices 44, connect piston groove 35 with recesses46 and 47 defined by the piston skirt portions 13 and 14. The pistonrecesses 46 and 47 are open to the respective ends of the cylinder bore11.

The piston 12 also carries a pair of rubber or rubberlike valve elements48 and 49 on opposite sides of the solid central portion 15.

The main housing 10 carries a pair of solenoid pilot valves generallydesignated 50 and 51. These solenoid valves are of identicalconstruction and a description of one will serve as a description of theother, like reference numerals being used to indicate like parts in thedrawing.

The solenoid valves each include a solenoid housing comprising a 'cupshaped body 54 which projects into the cylinder bore 11 and is closed atits open end by a molded non-conducting plastic cap 55 which is firmlyattached to the body 54 by suitable cementing material 53. The cap isattached to the main housing 10 by bolts 56. The body54 is electricallygrounded to main housing 10 by a spring ring 57 located in a groovewithin body 54 and frictiona'lly engaging bore 11. The spring ring isspe cially shaped, as shown in FIGURE 3 with radial convolutions 58therein for insuring tight frictional contact with both the solenoidhousing body 54 and the main housing cylinder bore 11 so as toefiectively serve as a ground connection between the two parts.

The solenoid housing body 54 contains a coil 60 having one lead 61connected to a terminal post 62 and another lead 63 connected to a plate64 mounted within and in electrical contact with body 54. The terminalpost 62 is mounted directly in the caps 55. This permits removal of anentire solenoid pilot valve fro-m the main housing 10 without disturbingthe connection of the solenoid coils 60 with the posts. Thus, removal ofthe bolts 56 permits the corresponding solenoid valve 50 or 51 to beremoved from the housing 10 without removing the post 62 from the cap 55and without disconnecting the lead wires 61 or 63. The cap 55, being ofnon-conductive plastic, insulates the terminals 62 from the main housing10 so that no additional insulator is required as would be the case ifthe cap 55 were made of metal.

Mounted within the coil 60 is a movable plunger 66 which serves as avalve element and is normally moved outwardly by a spring 67 intoseating engagement with a valve seat member 68 for normally closing aport 69 through the seat member. The plunger 67 carries a rubher seatmember 70 for making such seating engagement.

The solenoid valve 50 has an exhaust passage therethrough which includesan axial opening 72 through the bottom wall of the cup shaped solenoidhousing 54, an axial bore 73 extending part way through the plunger 66,a valve chamber 74, a cross bore 75 through the plunger connecting theaxial bore 73 with the valve chamber 74, and the port 69. The body 54also has a valve seat 76 surrounding the opening 72 and engageable withthe rubber valve element 49.

The cap 55 has an opening 77 in axial alignment with the plunger 66 andof larger diameter thereof. The seat member 68 is threaded into theopening 77 and is removable therefrom to permit removal of the valveplunger 66 through the opening 77 to permit ready replacement of therubber valve element 70.

In operation, the mechanism herein disclosed may be attached by means ofstuds 32 to a reciprocating piston type fluid pressure motor with valveport 26 connected to a port leading to one side of the piston for suchmotor and with valve port 27 being connected to a port leading to the.opposite side of such piston. The solenoid terminals 62 .are thenconnected to a source of electrical energy, not shown, and a means, alsonot shown, is provided for alternately energizing solenoid valves 50 and51.

Port 16 is then connected to a source of fluid under pressure, such asair, and the device is ready to operate.

Normally, at the beginning of operation, the piston is at one end or theother of its stroke with the corre-.

sponding valve element 48 or 49 seatedagainst the adjacent valve seat 76of the solenoid housing body 54. Assume that the piston 15 isat theleftward end of its stroke, as viewed in FIGURE '1, with the valveelement 49 seated against the body 54 of the pilot valve 50. In thisposition, the slidevalve 36 is positioned as shown with channel 37connecting delivery port 27 with exhaust port 22 and with channel 38covering only exhaust port so that delivery port 26 is open to valvechamber 18 through passage 29. Pressure fluid thus flows from inlet port16 through annular passage 17 to valve chamber 18 and through passage 29and delivery port 26 to one side of the fluid pressure motor to beoperated. 1

During this time, pressure fluid also passes through the restrictedopenings 44 and 45 into the recesses 46 and 47 of thepiston 15. Thepressure fluid within the recess 47 is trapped therein since valveelement 49 is seated against the. adjacent valve seat 76 on the.solenoid valve housing body 54. Pressure fluid within recess 46entersthe exhaust passages 72, 73, 75 and valve chamber 74 of the solenoidvalve 51 but is trapped therein since plunger 66 of solenoid valve 51 isseated againstthe corresponding 'seatmember 68.- At thistime pressurefluid within'the right hand end of cylinder bore 11 is acting leftwardlyacross the entire diametrical area of piston 15 while pressurefluidwithin recess 47 and the corresponding end of cylinder bore 11 is actingin the opposite direction against the samepiston area less the area ofvalve seat 76. Thus there is a diflerential pressure acting to holdthepiston 15 in its leftward position against solenoid housing body 54.-

Upon momentary energizing of solenoid valve 51, the plunger 66' thereinwill be retractedagainst pressure of 'the springv 67 to unseat the,valve face 70 from the seat member 68 so as to open the correspondingexhaust port '69. Port 69, as 'well as the remaining portions of theexhaust, passage through the solenoid valve 51fiare of larger fluidcarrying capacity than the bleed port 44 and hence pressure fluid canexhaust from recess 46 and the corresponding .end of thecylinder bore 11faster than it can enter through bleed port 44. This drops the fluidpressure acting on the corresponding side of piston .15

so that the pressure of the fluid acting on the opposite side of thepiston in recess 47 and the corresponding cylinder becomes: dominant andmoves the piston 15 to the right until valve element 48 engages seat 76of pilot valve 51 to close the exhaust passages through pilot valve 51.Closing of the exhaust passages by valve element 48 prevents furtherescape or unnecessary loss of pressure fluid through such exhaustpassages during such time that plunger 66 remains unseated from seatmember 68.v

Upon shifting of the piston 15 to the right, as just described, thepiston carries with it slide valve 36.- When the piston reaches therightward end of its stroke, channel 38 connects passage 29 with exhaustport 25 and channel 37 has moved to the right so asto cover only exhaustpassage 24 and passage is connected with valve chamber 18 so thatpressure fluid from valve chamber 18 will be delivered to port 27 and tothe corresponding sideof the fluid pressure motor being operated.Solenoid valve 51 is then de-energized to permit the corresponding valveplunger 66 to seat against the adjacent seat member 68 for closingexhaust passage 69 therein.

Upon energizingsolenoid valve 50, the action is reversed for effectingmovement of the piston 15 to the left. As solenoid valve 50 isenergized, the corresponding plunger 66 is retracted to unseat the samefrom the adjacent seat member 68 thus opening the exhaust port 69therein. Since this port, and the remaining portions of the exhaustpassage through solenoid valve 50 are likewise of larger fluid carryingcapacity than bleed port 45, pressure fluid will be exhausted fromrecess 47 and the corresponding end of the cylinder bore 11 faster thanit can enter through the bleed port 45 creating a pressure unbalanceupon the piston 15 effective to move the same to the left to theposition shown in FIGURE 1. In this position the valve element 49 on thepiston 15 again closes the exhaust passage through pilot valve 50 byseating against seat member 76 on the solenoid housing body 54 toprevent further escape of pressure fluid from recess 47 in the eventsolenoid 50 remains energized so as to retain valve plunger 66 in openposition.

The mechanism is capable of very rapid operation, that is reciprocationof the piston 15 can be effected at a very rapid rate. To effect suchreciprocation, the solenoid valves 50 and 51 are alternately energizedand de-energized as rapidly as desired. Energizing may be highlymomentary so as to be cut off before the piston reaches thecorresponding end of its stroke since it will be carried the rest of theway by inertia and by unbalanced fluid pressure acting thereon sincethere is a small delay before pressure builds up in the exhausted end ofthe cylinder due to the restricted passage of pressure fluid there intothrough the respective orifice 44 or 45. By providing a piston, 15,which is hollow at both ends, the mass and hence inertia of the piston,can be kept to a minimum while at the same time the skirt portions 13and 14 provide ample guide surface within the cylinder bore 11. It isdesirable to keep the piston mass and its inertia to a minimum in orderto facilitate the rapid operation and long life of the parts.Compactness of the entire mechanism is further accomplished by mountingthe solenoid valves 50 and 51 in axial alignment with the piston 15 withsolenoid housing bodies 54 projecting into the cylinder bore 11' and thepiston recesses 46 and 47.

Compactness and ease of manufacture is further facilitated by formingthe exhaust passages through the pilot valves in axial alignmenttherewith and with the piston and cylinder bore 11. The flow of fluidthrough such axial passages avoids any radial unbalance on the valveplungers and thus contributes to their ease of operation and long life.

Terminals 62 project from cap 55 in a radial direction with respect tothe longitudinal axis of solenoid body 54. Screws 56 are symmetricallylocated so as to permit cap 55 to be mounted in any of four angularpositions 90 degrees apart. Thus by selectively mounting cap 55 in anyof its four rotative positions, terminal 62 will likewise project in aselected one of four radial directions. This choice in direction forterminal 62 facilitates the connecting of an electrical conductorthereto in close quarter installations.

Speed control for the piston of the fluid pressure motor being actuatedby the mechanism is accomplished by means ofvalves 80 and 81 threadedlymounted in valve block 21 for adjustasbly restricting the exhausting offluid from the motor being operated through the respective exhaust ports22 and 23.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been said cylinder betweensaid solenoid housings, said solenoid housings having exhaust passagestherethrough communicating with the respective cylinder end, conduitmeans for introducing pressure fluid to each end of the cylinder,solenoid operated valve elements within said solenoid housings foropening and closing the respective exhaust passages for selectivelyexhausting pressure fluid from said cylinder ends to cause said pistonto move toward the cylinder end being exhausted, valve means at each endof the piston engageable with the respective solenoid housing forclosing the exhaust passage therethrough when the piston has moved tothe cylinder end being exhausted to thereby cut off further loss ofpressure fluid.

2. A valve operating mechanism comprising a main housing including acylinder, solenoid housings closing each end of the cylinder and inaxial alignment there with, a free valve operating piston reciprocablein said cylinder between said solenoid housings, said solenoid housingshaving exhaust passages therethrough communicating with the respectivecylinder end, conduit means for introducing pressure fluid to each endof the cylinder, solenoid operated valve elements within said solenoidhousings for opening and closing the respective exhaust passages forselectively exhausting pressure fluid from said cylinder ends to causesaid piston to move toward the cylinder end being exhausted, valve meansat each end of the piston engageable with the respective solenoidhousing for closing the exhaust passage therethrough when the piston hasmoved to the cylinder end being exhausted to thereby cut off furtherloss of pressure fluid, said solenoid housings having openings in axialalignment with said valve elements, and valve seat members removablymounted in said openings to permit access to said valve elements forservicing the same.

3. A valve operating mechanism comprising a main housing including acylinder, solenoid housings closing each end of the cylinder and inaxial alignment therewith, each solenoid housing having an end wallwithin the respective end of the cylinder, a free valve operating pistonreciprocable in said cylinder between said solenoid housings, saidsolenoid housings having exhaust passages therethrough communicatingwith the respective cylinder end,

conduit means for introducing pressure fluid to each end of thecylinder, solenoid operated valve elements within said solenoid housingsfor opening and closing the respective exhaust passages for selectivelyexhausting pressure fluid from said cylinder ends to cause said pistonto move toward the cylinder end being exhausted, said exhaust passageseach including a valve chamber, said valve elements having axial borestherein opening into one end of said elements and terminating short ofthe other end, said other ends being located in said valve chambers,said axial lbores constituting portions of said exhaust passages andbeing connected by cross bores in said valve elements with saidchambers, said exhaust passages each including an axial opening throughsaid end wall of the respective solenoid housing, and said piston havinga valve means on each end thereof and mova'ble with the piston forengaging the respective end wall for closing the axial opening thereinwhen the piston is at that end of its stroke.

4. A valve operating mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which saidsolenoid housings project within said cylinder and said exhaust passagescommunicate with said cylinder ends in axial alignment therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 690,092 12/1901Bashline 251-360 X 2,257,582 9/1941 Werther 25l141 X 2,291,623 8/1942Hanson et al. 3172 X 2,479,398 8/1949 Parsons 251-439 X 2,633,862 4/1953Dales 251-360 X 2,693,929 11/1954 Hart 25136O X 2,933,106 4/1960 Gerwiget al. 9151 2,945,988 7/1960 Henry et al. 3172 2,969,808 1/1961Horlacher 9151 3,084,676 4/1963 Herion et al. 137596.16 X 3,120,9432/1964 Donelan 251139 3,125,321 3/1964 Van Domelen 251-139 WILLIAM F.ODEA, Primary Examiner.

LAMBE st nt x m n

1. A VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM COMPRISING A MAIN HOUSING WHICH INCLUDESA CYLINDER, A SOLENOID HOUSING CLOSING EACH END OF THE CYLINDER AND INAXIAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, A FREE VALVE OPERATING PISTON RECIPROCABLE INSAID CYLINDER BETWEEN SAID SOLENOID HOUSINGS, SAID SOLENOID HOUSINGSHAVING EXHAUST PASSAGES THERETHROUGH COMMUNICATING WITH THE RESPECTIVECYLINDER END, CONDUIT MEANS FOR INTRODUCING PRESSURE FLUID TO EACH ENDOF THE CYLINDER, SOLENOID OPERATED VALVE ELEMENTS WITHIN SAID SOLENOIDHOUSINGS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE RESPECTIVE EXHAUST PASSAGES FORSELECTIVELY EXHAUSTING PRESSURE FLUID FROM SAID CYLINDER ENDS TO CAUSESAID PISTON TO MOVE TOWARD THE CYLINDER END BEING EXHAUSTED, VALVE MEANSAT EACH END OF THE PISTON ENGAGEABLE WITH THE RESPECTIVE SOLENOIDHOUSING FOR CLOSING THE EXHAUST PASSAGE THERETHROUGH WHEN THE PISTON HASMOVED TO THE CYLINDER END BEING EXHAUSTED TO THEREBY CUT OFF FURTHERLOSS OF PRESSURE FLUID.